Side bearing.



Kso

Figure 1 is a vertical, central, longitudinal section through the socket or housing, showing the roller in elevation. I a transverse, central section through the socket, the roll, the bearing plates, the pins and the springs showing' also the pin sockets. Fig. 3 is a detailed section taken near one end, showing the bearing plate and means for retaining and supporting it, and this retaining bar isvshown in dotted lines in the position it takes just prior to being seated. F ig. 4 is a transverse section oi a modified formy of the device.

Referring to the drawing by numerals applied to the different parts, the device consists of a socket or housing casting 1 adapted to be secured to the bottoni' of the car body or to the truck if desired. The socket, as shown, is elongated in the direction of the length of the car, e., in a direction at right angles to the axis of the roll 2. The latter-.is seated in the socket with its axis at right angles to the'length of the car and of, the socket- The end or circular faces 3 of the roll, as shown`r are cupped, z'. e., they are depressed prei'erablyin the form of an obtuse cone. Cooperating with these conical depressions 4, 4 are centering pinsv, 5 having end faces 6, preferably conical, formed to cooperate with the conical cups or depressions 4. These pins are mounted in cylindrical bearing sockets 7 on each side of the box, the axes of which sockets coinjcide with the axis of the roller in normal or central position. The pins, as shown, are made hollow, e., they are provided with central spring pockets S extending inward from their bases 9 or ends remote from the roller, and mounted in these spring pockets yare spiral springs 10 engaging the forward ends of the spring pockets. and at the rear, engaging the outer walls l1 of the bearing sockets 7.

The spiral springs tend to force lthe pins inward and ress the conical faces 6 against the conical cpressions 4 of the ends of the rollerswith a resulting cani or wedge action which exerts a continued tendency to maintain the roller in normal or central position,

or return it thereto when it leaves this position.

The upper element of the roller engages a bearing plate 12 mounted within the socket or housing. Preferably, this bearing plate, which is composed of steel, is inserted into the housing from below so it is inclosed on its four end edges or surfaces by the side walls of the housing. The plate is supported by cross-bars 13 which, as shown in Fig; 3, are sprung into recesses or pockets 14 formed in the sides ofthe bearing socket to receive theni. The lower element ofk the roller surface 15 bears on a plate or other dat bearing surface 16 providedfor this purpose', As shown, the socket portion v 1 is secured to the bottoni of the car body, while the bearing plate 16 is secured to the truck, but this relation may, of course, be changedwithout dermntui'.n from the inventi( n.

in Fig. 4 I have illustrated a modified torni of the device. Instead of the sockets and the spiral springs 10, the centering pins 5 are mounted on spring plates 17, seated in the sides of the box or roll socket, and, as shown, extending from end to end and top to ,bottoni of tiese side walls. However, these plate springs may be otherwise formed. The springsgive the pins an inward thrust witha resulting tendency to center the roller as hereinbefor'e described in regard to the preferred form. 4

The operation of the device is apparent from the; description and drawing. As the truck oscillates in a horizontal plane relatively to the center bearing, the point on the truck, where the side bearing is located, nio-ves through a considerable arc relatively to the carbody and the roller moves: a correspondin distance from the center of its socket rol ing over the two bearing plates 12 and 16 provided for t'his purpose. The roller may reach the end of its socket or be displaced from its center b a lesser distance, and tlfe function of t is devicel isto prevent cramping of the roller in the end of its socket. When the car rocks or oscillates in a vertical transverse plane, moving away from the particular side of the bearing inv question, and removing its weight fromthat side bearing, the roller therein is released and the springs, tending to force the' centering pins inward exert a wedging or cam action through the pins on the conical. depressed surfaces of the ends of theroller. Thus the roller is returned to normal position and'made ready to again receivelthfe weight of the. car to take up friction during` the next oscillation of the truck.

-I havepthus described specifically a p'ref tei-red embodiment of my invention in order. that its nature and operation may beclearly understood. However, they specic terms herein are used in their descriptive rather than in their limiting sense and the scope of the invention is defined in the claims.

I claim.- v

1. A side bearing consisting of a housing, a roller seated therein, the roller having bearings including a cupped end surface,l a centering pin engaging the cup, a spring acting on the centering pin tending to force it inward and thereby to maintain the roller near the center of the housing and return it to central position when displaced. y

2. side bearing consisting of an elongated A housing, a roller extending transversely of the housing and free to roll baciaF and` forth therein,

a bearing for thero'lin the bottom of the housing, and an exteriiai A "fein m hmmm l1.

and@ hewn. 

